Adjustable wire and cable reel



y 3, 1955 B. H. SNYDER 2,707,599

ADJUSTABLE WIRE AND CABLE REEL Filed Jan. 12. 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 um IIIHIHHH INVENTOR. emu/4mm I-l. swam ATTORNEY y 3, 1955 B. H. SNYDER 2,707,599

ADJUSTABLE WIRE AND CABLE REEL Filed Jan. 12, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 v INVENTOR. BENJAMIN H. SNYDER ATTORNEY United States My invention relates to adjustable wire and cable reels, and its objects are to furnish an improved supporting and dispensing reel for coils of cable, wire, rope, flex, cord, or other stock which lends itself to be wound into a co l or roll; to render such reel easily portable and to permit one of said coils readily to be wound or rewoun'd theron and to be unwound therefrom; to mount and lock the coil rigidly in position upon the reel while permitt ng said reel rotatably to be set up for convenient operat on by the workman; to provide adequate means for adjustmg the parts of the reel in relation to the coil so as to conform accurately to the central opening, width and size of the coil; to permit the ready removal and replacement of the coils with conforming readjustment of the parts of the reel; to permit a plurality of coils separately to be mounted upon reels and to be rotated and utilized from a carriage provided therefor or any other supportmg means; to render the parts of the reel easily accessible for inspection, adjustment, replacement, restoration and repair; and generally to provide a stock reel that is economical of construction, saving of labor, efficient in action and of prolonged life and durability. My invention further consists of novel features of construction, and combinations and arrangements of elements and parts illustrated in the drawing and hereinafter more specifically described and claimed.

Attention is hereby' directed to the accompanying drawing, illustrating two preferred forms of my invention, in which similar numerals of designation refer to similar parts throughout the several views, and in which:

Figure l is a side elevational View of one form of a stock reel embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a view of the inner face of the wheel forming one side and the basic support for the parts of said reel, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows 2-2;

Fig. 3 is a view of the inner face of the disc cover form-- ing the other side of said reel and serving as an auxiliary support for the parts thereof, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows 3-3;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view showing the cap, retaining ring, and adjacent parts of one of the ends of the noncontinuous adjusting bolts illustratedin Fig. 2, the said ring being absent from this arrangement in respect to the ends of the continuous bolt;

Fig. 5 is a side elevational view of another form of stock reel embodying my invention, and including an improved means for effecting the adjustment of the stock supporting arms;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to that shown in Fig. 2', looking in the directionindicated by the arrows 6-6, of Fig. 5 but showing the aforesaid improved adjusting means;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view on line 7-7 of Fig. 6 looking in the direction indicated by the arrows, and showing a cross section of one of the slotted steel channel spokes of the wheel and connection therewith of the shoe of one of the stock supporting arms;

Fig. 8 is asectional View on line 8-8 of Fig. 6, looking in the direction of the arrows, and showing the aratent lit rangement of bevel gears and adjacent parts employed for making the improved adjustment of the stock supporting arms, and

Fig. 9 is an isometric view of the wheel shown in Fig. 6, looking in a direction offset from that of the arrows 88, and showing objectively the parts of said wheel including the protruding axle and stock supporting arms thereof.

Referring to the form of the device illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4 of the stock reel there shown generally comprises the wheel 9, tubular deflecting ring 16, shaft 10, crank 10a, stock supporting arms 11, 12, 13 and 14, and the disccover 15.

The Wheel 9 consists of the tubular deflecting ring 16, the hub 21, and three slotted precision steel channels, one of which is continuous, straight, and forms the aligned spokes 1'7 and 18, and the other steel channels of which respectively form the two aligned separated spokes 19 and 24 located at right angles to the spokes 17 and 18 and with ends of said spokes 19 and 2t) situated on each side of said continuous steel channels; the said spokes radiating from a common center and being welded or securelyattached between and to the plates 22 and 23, forming the hub 21. Extending inwardly from the plate 22 toward the cover 15, and preferably integral with said plate, is the shaft 1%, and extending outwardly from the plate 23 in the opposite direction, and preferably integral therewith, is the axle 2 positioned to be in exact alignment with said shaft.

Mounted to slide longitudinally in the channels of the said spokes, and confined from escape therefrom, by the inturned rims thereof, as shown in Pig. 7, are the shoes 11a, 12a, 13a and 14a, integral with, or otherwise firmly secured to, the stock supporting arms 11, 12, 13 and 14, respectively, as shown more particularly in Fig. 9; each of said shoes having a longitudinal passageway therethrough threaded to engage with the body of the bolt disposed within the channel engaging said shoe. Within the continuous steel channel forming the aligned spokes 17 and 13 is confined the continuous bolt 25, one part 25a of which within the spoke 17 carries a right handed thread, and the other part 25b of which is formed with a left handed thread, so that upon the turning of said bolt 25 the shoes 11a and 13a in threaded engagement therewith will be drawn together or forced apart in accordance with the rotation of the said bolt. Within the steel channels forming the aligned spokes 19 and 29, are confined respectively the separate parts 25d and 250 threaded to engage with the shoes 12 and 14, so that upon the turning of said parts the said shoes will be adjusted accordingly within their respective channelsv As is obvious, the said parts 25c and 25d, as is the case with the parts 25a and 25b, could be made continuous if desired within the meaning and scope of my invention.

Upon the outer end of each of said spokes is removably secured the cap 26, having a central opening 2dr! through which extends the outer end of the adjacent bolt, having the head 27, the shank of the parts 250 and 25d having formed therein just below the said cap an annular recess shaped to receive a retaining ring or washer 27a, and permitting the turning of said bolt while preventing the longitudinal movement thereof. Upon application of a wrench or other turning means to said head, the parts may be rotated and the said shoes and the connected stock supporting arms adjusted accordingly.

The disc cover 15, consists of the disc 23, circular in form and of sheet metal or other suitable material, the four angle steels 29, 3t), 31 and 32 or an arrangement having the inner flanges welded or otherwise firmly secured to the inner face thereof, and the deflecting tubular ring 33. The said disc has formed in the center thereof the opening 34, shaped to engage with the extended end of the shaft 10, and radiating from the said opening upon said disc are the said angle steels positioned to engage respectively with the outer ends of the said stock supporting arms when the said disc is mounted upon the shaft and slid inwardly toward the wheel 9. Accordingly the outer ends of said supporting arm and the web of the angle steels extending outwardly at right angles to the inner face of said disc are in overlapping contact and allow adjustment of the parts for coils of varying width and to prevent the stock from being drawn between outer ends of the supporting arms and the web of said angles. Also in each base of the said angle steels and extending through the adjacent wall of the cover disc 28 are the slots 35, shaped to engage with the said ends of the stock supporting arms or to permit the same to protrude therethrough. Welded to the outer face of said cover disc or otherwise firmly secured thereto is the hub 36, consisting of the apertured plate 37 and integral therewith the collar 38, through which plate and collar extends the outer end 39 of the shaft 10; a set screw 40 serving releasably to secure the said collar upon the said shaft, and to adjust the cover toward and from the wheel 9.

To mount the coil of reel stock upon the form of device shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4, of the drawing, I first release the set screw 46 of the hub 36 and slidably remove the disc cover 15, through the turning of the three bolts c, 25d and continuous bolt 25a25b; then I adjust the stock supporting arms 11, 12, 13 and 14 to conform to and to fit the interior opening of the coil, and thereupon I slide the coil upon the said arms, thereafter I restore the cover to its original position upon the shaft 10, taking care to slide the said cover closely in contact with the adjacent side of coil and to force the said coil as firmly as possible against the spokes of the wheel 9; and then I turn down the set screw to make locking contact with the shaft 10 and make such further adjustments of said arms as may be required to accomplish exact registration of the opening of the coil with the said arms. For winding or rewinding the stock upon the rec], I preferably provide the crank 19a amxed to either end of shaft 10 or the extension thereof. Ordinarily such operation of my said device will sufiice for the larger or more normal sized coils; but in case it is desired to adapt the reel to smaller sized coils I have provided the slots 35, so that the ends of the stock supporting arms may pass therethrough and allow the wheel and cover to be brought closer together where the Width of the coil is smaller than the length of said arms. Also, as is obvious, this provision of slots could be adapted and used for the larger sized coils.

Referring to the second form of my device shown in Figs. 5 to 8, inclusive, I have there illustrated a modified form of the reel just hereinbefore described, in that I have provided an improved means for effecting the adjustment of the shoes of the aforesaid stock supports whereby said adjustment may be effected simultaneously instead of the varying adjustment of said shoes or arms as shown in Figs. 1 to 4. This simultaneous adjustment is effected through dispensing with the plates 22 and 23 of the hub 21, and by substituting for such hub the gear case 41, welding thereto the inner ends of the steel channels with channels opening therein, and enclosing within said case a gear arrangement centrally connecting the threaded bolts of said channels and shaft so as to turn all of the bolts and adjust the arms at the same time in a single operation through the turning of the shaft 10 by the crank ltla while holding the spokes stationary, or reversing said operation. Thereupon the parts are locked in position by bolt 53 engaging collar 51. In this form of reel each of the bolts 25a, 25b, 25c and 25d is separated from the others and confined within its channel, except that each bolt has its inner end firmly affixed to a bevel gear extending within said case and positioned to mesh with the fixed and idler bevel gears 55 and 56, respectively, mounted upon the shaft 10.

This gear case 41 is a cylindrical box and comprises the encompassing wall 42, and the ends 43 and 44 secured to gear case 41 by set screws such as, for example, 33a and 44a; the end 43 consisting of an apertured disc having the bearing 45 within which normally rotates the collar 46 of gear 56 secured to the shaft 10 by the set screw 47; and the end 44 consisting of an apertured disc having the bearing 48 within which rotates the idler gear collar 49 of gear 55 mounted to turn upon the shaft 10. Also, revolubly mounted within the annular recess 50 of the casing of said gear case, and slidably seated upon the disc 44, is the flat collar 51, which is attached to the shaft It) by the key or spline 52, and which collar is adapted to effect engagement and disengagement with the wall of said casing by the set screws 53, engaging with recesses formed in the periphery of said collar and spaced apart at regular intervals. Mounted upon said shaft within said gear case and separated by a thrust bearing on said shaft, are the two bevel gears and 56, meshing with the bevel gears upon the inner ends of the bolts 25a, 25b, 25c and 251]. The operation of this form of my device is similar to that shown in Figs. 13, except that adjustment of the stock supporting arms is effected by the rotation of the shaft while holding the spokes stationary or reverse operation, and then securing the parts into position by turning the bolt 53 to engage the collar 51, thereby locking the said casing and shaft together.

By the words coils of stock as used in the claims, I desire to be understood as meaning stock which is capable of being wound or wrapped to form a roll or coil, or any equivalent therefor.

My invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiment, as above set forth is therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of my invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which may come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced there- What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An adjustable reel for coils of stock, comprising in combination an extending supporting shaft; a rimmed wheel-like structure mounted upon said shaft, said structure having a gear case and channelled spokes radiating therefrom to the rim thereof; stock supporting arms in parallel relation with said shaft and slidably seated in the channels of said spokes; threaded adjusting bolts connected with arms and said shaft for adjusting the spread of said arms along the length of said channels; a gear train located within said gear case and operatively connected with said shaft and threaded bolts, said gear train consisting of bevel gears aflixed to the inner ends of said bolts, a pair of bevel gears mounted upon said shaft and meshing with said other bevel gears, one of which aforesaid pair is fixed to said shaft and the other of which idles thereon, a thrust bearing also mounted upon said shaft and freely rotating thereon and serving to space apart the said gears and to assume the thrust of the said bolts; and another wheel-like body mounted upon said shaft and adjustably engaging with said arms along the length thereof.

2. The structure of claim 1, including a collar secured to said shaft and seated within and engaging with the casing of said gear case and adapted to lock the arms of said reel in stationary position.

3. In an adjustable reel for coils of stock, the combination of a shaft; :1 rimmed wheel-like structure mounted upon said shaft, said structure having a central gear case and channelled spokes radiating therefrom to the rim thereof; stock supporting arms in parallel relation with said shaft and slidably seated in the channels of said spokes; threaded adjusting bolts connected with said shaft for adjusting said arms along said channels; a gear train located within said gear case operatively connected with said shaft and bolts, said gear train consisting of bevel gears aflixed to the inner ends of said bolts, a pair of bevel gears mounted upon said shaft and meshing with said other bevel gears, one of which pair is fixed to said shaft and the other of which idles thereon, and a thrust bearing also mounted upon said shaft and freely rotating thereon and serving to space apart the said gears and to assume the thrust of the said bolts.

4. The structure of claim 3 including a collar secured to said shaft and seated within and engaging with the casing of said gear case and adapted to lock the arms of said reel in stationary position.

5. In an adjustable reel for coils of stock the combination a shaft, a rimmed Wheel-like structure mounted on said shaft and having a central gear case, spokes radiating therefrom to rim thereof; stock supporting arms substantially in parallel relation to said shaft, and slidably connected to said spokes, threaded bolts aligned with said spokes and connected with said shaft for adjusting said arms along said spokes; and a gear train located within said gear case and operatively connected with said shaft and bolts; said gear train consisting of bevel gears affixed to the inner ends of said bolts, a pair of bevel gears mounted upon said shaft and meshing with said other bevel gears, one of which pair is fixed to said shaft and the other of which idles thereon, a thrust bearing also mounted upon said shaft and freely rotating thereon and serving to space apart the said gears and to assume the thrust of the said bolts.

6. An adjustable reel for coils of stock comprising in combination an extended supporting shaft; a main rimmed wheel-like structure mounted on said shaft; said structure having a central hub engaging with said shaft and longitudinally recessed spokes radiating therefrom to the rim of said structure; stock supporting arms is parallel relation to said shaft; said arms protruding through lateral recesses in said radiating spokes; shoes attached to said stock supporting arms and having a common lateral center with their respective longitudinal recessed spokes, said shoes being operatively seated and confined in said spokes, a continuous bolt extending through two longitudinally aligned spokes of said reel, one end of the bolt having a right, the other end a left hand thread, in threaded engagement with openings of their respective shoes, for ad justing arms equidistantly along radiating spokes toward or away from the common center; and also a two part aligned non-continuous bolt the parts which are in threaded engagement with the openings of their respective shoes for independent adjustment thereof; and an additional rimmed wheel-like structure mounted upon said shaft and means for adjustably engaging the same with said arms along the length thereof.

7. The subject matter of claim 6, said additional rimmed wheel-like structure and its adjusting means comprising a circular disc having a central opening and said disc being attached to a hub and shaped to slidably engage with said shaft, saiddisc having slots therein radially extending away from the central portion of said disc and shaped and positioned to slidably engage with the free extended end portions of said stock supporting arms, and means connected with said disc for adjusting the same to and from the said main wheel-like structure.

8. The subject matter of claim 6, the said adjusting means connected with said additional rimmed wheel-like structure consisting of a projecting hub the hollow of which is located and shaped to register with the central opening of said additional rimmed wheel-like structure and to surround said shaft, the body of said hub having a threaded opening leading laterally to said shaft; and a set screw engaging with said threaded opening and adapted to contact said shaft.

9. In an adjustable reel for coils of stock the combination of an extending'supporting shaft, a rimmed wheellike structure mounted on said shaft and having a central hub; spokes radiating to the rim of said structure; stock supporting arms extending in parallel relation to said shaft; shoes attached to said stock supporting arms and slidably engaged with said spokes respectively; a continuous bolt disposed in parallel relation with the longitudinal aligning spokes of said reel, one end of the bolt having a right and the other end a left hand thread, in threaded engagement with an opening of said shoes provided therefor, and adapted for adjustment equidistantly along their respective radiating spokes toward or away from their common center; and also a twopart aligned non-continuous bolt the parts of which are in threaded engagement with the openings of their respective shoes for independent adjustment thereof another rimmed wheel-like structure slidably mounted upon said shaft, comprising a rimmed disc fitted upon an extending apertured hub surrounding said shaft, said hub having a threaded opening leading laterally to said shaft, and a set screw engaging with said threaded opening and adapted to contact said shaft, steel angles, positioned and secured upon the inner face of said rimmed disc radiating outwardly from the center, slotted apertures through the bases of said angles and adjacent wall of said disc, said apertures being shaped to engage and permit said extending parallel arms to protrude therethrough as said rimmed Wheel-like structure is moved along said shaft.

10. In an adjustable reel for coils of stock the combination of an extending supporting shaft, a rimmed wheeldike structure mounted on said shaft and having a central hub; spokes radiating to the rim of said structure; stock supporting arms in extending parallel relation to said shaft; shoes attached to said stock supporting arms and slidably engaged with said spokes, respectively; a continuous bolt disposed in parallel relation with the longitudinal aligning spokes of said reel, one end of the bolt having a right and the other end a left hand thread, in threaded engagement with an opening of said shoes provided therefor, and adapted for adjustment equidistantly along their respective radiating spokes toward or away from their common center and also a two part aligned non-continuous bolt the parts of which are in threaded engagement with the threaded openings of their respective shoes for independent adjustment thereof; an additional rimmed Wheel-like structure slidably mounted upon said shaft and means for securing same along the length of said shaft.

11. The subject matter of claim 10, said additional rimmed wheel-like structure comprising a rimmed radial support having a central opening to coincide with attached hub said hub having opening therein shaped to slidably engage with said shaft said radial support having slots there in radially extending away from the central portion of said rimmed radial support and shaped and positioned to slidably engage with free extended end portions of said stock supporting arms, and means connected with said rimmed radial support for adjusting the same to and from said main wheel-like structure.

12. The subject matter of claim 10, said adjusting means connected with said rimmed wheel-like structure .consisting of an extending hub, the hollow of which is located and shaped to register with the central opening of said rimmed wheel-like structure and to surround said shaft, the body of said hub having a threaded opening lat erally to said shaft and a set screw engaging with said threaded opening and adapted to engage said shaft.

13. The subject matter of claim 10, said additional rimmed wheel-like structure including angular steel bars with flanges at right angles to each other, one outer rectangular face of said flanges being secured to the inner face of said rimmed wheel-like structure and radiating away from the center towards the periphery thereof, the flanges of said angles having slotted apertures extending therethrough and registering with slots of said wheel-like structure.

14. In an adjustable reel for coils of stock, the combination of a shaft, a main rimmed wheel-like structure mounted upon said shaft, said structure having a gear case and channelled spokes radiating outwardly therefrom; stock supporting arms in parallel relation with said shaft slidably seated in the channels of said spokes; threaded adjusting bolts connected with said shaft for adjusting said arms along said channels; a gear train located within said gear case operatively connected with said shaft and bolts, said gear train consisting of bevel gears affixed to the inner ends of said bolts, a pair of bevel gears mounted upon said shaft and meshing with said other bevel gears, one of which pair is fixed to said shaft and the other of which idles thereon; a thrust bearing also mounted upon said shaft and freely rotating thereon and serving to space apart the said gears and to assume the thrust of the said bolts; and an additional rimmed wheel-like structure mounted upon said shaft,

and means for adjustably engaging the same with said arms along the length thereof.

15. The subject matter of claim 14, said additional wheel-like structure comprising a circular disc having a central opening and being attached to a hub and shaped to slidably engage with said shaft, said disc having slots therein radially extending away from the central portion of said disc and shaped and positioned to slidably engage with the free extended end portions of said stock supporting arms, and means connected with said additional rimmed wheel-like structure for adjusting the same to and from the said main wheel-like structure.

16. The subject matter of claim 14, the said adjusting means connected with said additional rimmed wheel-like structure consisting of an extending hub, the hollow of which is located and shaped to register with the central opening of said additional rimmed wheel-like structure and to surround said shaft; the body of said hub having a threaded opening leading laterally to said shaft; and a set screw engaging with said threaded opening and adapted to contact said shaft.

17. The subject matter of claim 14, said additional wheel-like structure including steel angles with flanges having one of the rectangular bases of the flanges firmly secured to the inner face of said additional rimmed wheellike structure and radiating away from the center portion of said additional rimmed wheel-like structure toward the periphery thereof, one of the flanges of said angles having slotted apertures extending therethrough and registering with the slots of said wheel-like structure.

18. The subject matter of claim 14, said additional rimmed wheel-like structure including flanges firmly secured at right angles to the inner face of said structure and radiating away from the center portion of said structure toward the periphery thereof, the said flanges being adjacent to and registering with slots in the said structure.

19. The subject matter of claim 14, said additional rimmed wheel-like structure including flanges firmly sccured at right angles to the inner face of said structure and radiating away from the center portion of said structure toward the periphery thereof, the said flanges being adjacent to and registering with slots in the said structure.

20. In an adjustable reel for coils of stock, the combination of a shaft, a rimmed wheel-like structure mounted upon said shaft, said structure having a gear case and channeled spokes radiating outwardly therefrom; stock supporting arms in parallel relation with said shaft and having shoes slidably seated in and confined from escape from the channels of said spokes; a gear train located within said gear case and operatively connected with said shaft; a collar secured to said shaft and seated within and engaging with the casing of said gear case and adapted to lock the arms of said reel in stationary position; and means connected with said shaft for adjusting the shoes along said channels.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 742,788 Hoberg et a]. Oct. 27, 1903 941,637 Jameson Nov. 30, 1909 1,401,123 Anderson Dec. 27, 192] 1,764,125 Spoor June 17, 1930 2,199,901 Whitaker May 7, 1940 FOREIGN PATENTS 967,394 France Mar. 29, 1950 

